Saturday, May 7, 2011

Geronimo:Kahani abhi baaki hai...Happy Mother's Day!

I love tea....and everything to do with it. These pics were taken inside the famous Tea Room at the Grand Hyatt, Bangkok. The dim sums were to die for, and the ambience outstanding.The choice of teas was awesome.... sipped a lapsong after years... sipped it slowly, lingering over every smokey sip. I love teapots as well, and have a small collection. I lusted after these two, but they weren't for sale!It's a gorgeous Saturday morning.... it's Mother's Day. Here's wishing every human being a fabulous Mother's Day... without mothers, none of us would be here!! ****************Okay, Obama devotees.... do your bit .... bash me! I love your faith in and adulation for the man. I'm sure Obama is a great guy.... but it's totally okay not to adore him unilaterally. Khair.... I do understand the passion of the newly converted.... go ahead, guys. Worship him!

*************This appeared today in the Asian Age...

“ It’s a go!” said Obama.And they went…!

How I love that line : “ It’s a go!” said President Obama. And they went! It is so quintessentially American. So cowboy! On Friday, April 29th, the mighty President of the United States of America ordered the historic raid that killed one of the most dreaded men who ever lived – Osama bin Laden. Strange, but not even a week later, all the drama witnessed by incredulous viewers across the world, is beginning to resemble a bang bang Western from the early ‘80’s. “Geronimo EKIA…” was the terse confirmation from Leon Panetta,CIA chief, to his boss, after those mysterious SEALS descended on an ugly mansion in a peculiarly named town ( Abbottabad) deep inside Pakistan. Nobody in India had really heard of this blessed place, nobody… except our very own actor Manoj ( Bharat) Kumar, who was born there. Listening to President Obama’s precisely delivered televised speech ( strictly, no emotions), it was impossible not to rub ones eyes in sheer disbelief and ask, “ Is this really the whole story? Will the world ever know what really happened on that moonless night?” The answer is obvious : No, we won’t. The sensible thing to do is take Obama’s word for it…. and move on. There will be versions galore in the years to come. Military analysts will deconstruct and point out the obvious holes in the official version.But for most observers, it’s enough that Obama took out the man responsible for the deaths of so many innocent people, not just in America, but across the world. Why probe? Or go too deeply into how it was done… why now… or even that it came nearly a decade too late. Let’s just say, ‘Thank you, Barack,” and khisko to the nearest disco. The euphoria of this victory needs to be savoured just a bit longer, without nit -picking or bitching. Though, it’s hard not to indulge in either activity, given some of the obvious absurdities and contradictions that are now emerging. Kyunki, think about it: is a dead Osama better than Osama alive? Does his death make the world a safer place?On the contrary, we are back to square one, looking over our shoulders at possible retaliatory action planned by members of the dreaded al-Qaida. Some say the backlash is inevitable.Two nights after Obama’s announcement , I was with a low key , self styled America expert. This is a very clued in person who hangs out with sources most professional journos would give an arm and a leg to cultivate. I was pretty sure he’d be in the mood to brag a little …or even, a lot! People like him make a pretty cushy living out of creating ‘clout perceptions’ that suggest their proximity to powerful insiders. I asked my acquaintance some basic questions about Operation Geronimo - questions that demanded common sense not military intelligence. From where did those attack choppers take off ?If they flew in from a distance, even a short one, how come they went undetected for close to an hour? What about the noise? Sure, it was a moonless night and black birds ( even gigantic ones) in the sky are hard to spot.But we are not discussing visibility here. What about hearing? Those guys in the neighbourhood may have been asleep, but were they also deaf…did nobody hear the roar of those killer machines hovering over their heads? The expert leaned forward conspiratorially and said, “Why are you forgetting one thing? It is the Americans themselves who have given all the hardware to Pakistan, trained their men, set up the systems. How difficult is it for the very same Americans to use the systems, facilities, locations, codes and machines to conduct such a strike from within the country? Who would suspect or stop them? It is the Americans who have equipped the Pakistani military, armed them to the teeth, given billions of dollars to create sophisticated establishments all over. They merely used their own expertise and free access for this operation. Smart move. I’d call it a good return on their investment!” I immediately bought the guy two more drinks. Whether or not this is an accurate assessment, it made sense. The Americans neatly turned the tables on their ‘students’ and pulled off one of the biggest coups before those sleepy chaps could blink. The hard work begins now. According to Mr. Know it All, this has been one of Obama’s shrewdest moves, not just to assert himself and work on falling ratings ( up, already), but also to show Hillary Clinton her place. Apparently, Barack is a bit tired of Hill and Bill running the show in Washington. The Clintons were seen as an annoying, interfering duo, trying to dominate the White House with the full support of key aides loyal to both of them. It was time to show them who was boss. It was also time to tell the world he was indeed the Most Powerful Human Being Alive, and never mind detractors constantly reminding him of his failings… his weaknesses. The ‘Situation Room’ images had their own story to tell. Hillary looked worried as the team waits for more live feeds from SEALS in Abbottabad. Obama appeared the coolest customer in the group, casually attired in a white tee and bomber jacket. But it was the President’s calm and strong address to his people and the rest of the world, a few hours later that will become the definitive moment of his Presidency, regardless of what follows. I have to confess, I have always been critical of his much acclaimed oratory. No doubt, he has a great speech writer and Obama delivers those evocative lines faultlessly. But a tele- prompted speech remains a mechanical performance and somehow doesn’t touch hearts in quite the same way as an old fashioned, unrehearsed bhaashan. Clearly, I am in a minority on this one going by the spate of nasty comments posted on my blog after my spontaneous reaction to the address. Acchha… now to clear the debris left behind by those 79 SEALS in four choppers…. physical and psychological debris. Khel Khatam? Hardly. Kahani abhi baaki hai. A new khel has just begun. Kyon, Kayaniji?

I am addicted to green tea i just love it ( thanks to you i mean your book shobhaa@60).instinctively i feel kahani abhi baaki hai if osma is no more there is no dearth for successors but its not over yet!

America has just eliminated the Frankenstein monster that it had created a couple of decades back. So nothing great in that except the covert style of doing it, ie., allegedly doing it without the knowledge of it's illegitimate child whom the US has been carrying in its arms and nourishing him since long and in whose backyard the monster was living in style. But Shobha, you are right. Kahani abhi baaki hai mere dost. These monsters act like 'Raqtbeej' the legendary demon, whose every drop of blood gave birth to another demon like him. So America and the peace loving world will do better not to slip into complacency after the death of Osama.

Could not agree with u more on bland teleprompted speeches by Obama. I for one prefer Hitlers emotionally charged UNteleprompted speeches. Obama is hogging credit for OBLs death when he should have let him live like Kasab for the fear of stirring fundamentlists. Forget Obama Shobama..I would rather hobnob with pompous polyester progeny and brazen bollywoood bunch.

It doesn't matter to me if you like Obama or not.You wrote 2 posts on Dhoni and Dhoni's mom and even one post on Mukesh Ambani's home.Yet did not even spare a thought for 9/11 victims.That was really callous.

Quality books craft quality mindset, and quality mindset creates quality human beings. That’s the capability books hold, and leads you to the better pathway of the long journey called life. Books let you discriminate between good and bad, dos and don’ts, and many other protocols to bring discipline to your life. Visit www.buybooksonline24x7.com for more.

Our poster boys change within days.Dhoni after World Cup. Next day it was Anna Hazare. And now the dead Osama. Osama is getting such a coverage that Obama stands relegated to the background. Next will be a poster girl. Probably Mamata.

et tu too, mz de? and i thought OBL was just a 3-letter word to you, like CWG, IPL, BHO etc. media torture continues with video of an old man (could be anyone) sitting in a filthy room (could be anywhere, even in maha UP) watching blurred images on an outdated tv, surrounded by centuries' old equipment (PCs, modems, remotes) while rocking to a beat that only he can hear. come on! is this the best that hollywood, with earlier offering of "wag the dog" circa 1997, can deliver? the locals (sturdy men in turbans and scruffy clothes) have heard and seen choppers with marines land on this decrepit house many times. joint military excercises conducted while the pakis are trained by the US. that mansion is a hostage-simulation room. apart from that, which self-respecting 3rd or 4th or 5th wife will dwell in a house with no matching linen and domestic help? the rooms look like a movie set used in "ironman" and "hurt locker". enough said. OBL is alive and well and everyone is happy.c'est la vie, ma cherie!ps: i love your fan following. out of 17 comments, only 4 deal with your OBL write-up. the rest are drooling over tea-pots.

send cakes to chennai, cakes to chennai, cakes to chennai delivery, cakes home delivery to Chennai with www.chennaicakesdelivery.com. Online Shopping of cake for chennai delivery is secured and assured with us. You can order online cakes to chennai and all around India. send birth day cake, wedding cake, anniversary cake with us. same day cake delivery to Chennai. our cakes are Delicious and freshly baked , made by the finest chefs in the country. Delight your loved ones with this simple and delicious combination.

Flowers to Chennai delivery are free, safe and secured with www.chennaiflowers.com. We being Local Flower Shop are cheaper than other florists in Chennai. We deliver fresh Flowers, Cakes, Sweets and other gifts on door, you can order online to send flowers to Chennai .

A truly motivational and life changing bookThis book is really a good book which shows us right path. but i readone more book named "ONE BOOK FOR LIFE SUCCESS" which is trulymotivational and life changing . .The writer has described in Plain English with lot of examples which is easy to understand...For MorePlease watch the videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biORjS8ngv0